Circular-knitting machine.



H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPMGATION FILED MRA 4, 1914..

h. mama N0v.1v,1914.

7 SHEETSMSHEET l. El, @nl

)4 1Q wf f f j j, Si.

i f K il "Rai/iin @Me A H. H. WEST.

OERGULAR KNITTING- MACHINE.

APPLICATION NLBD MAR. 4. 1914.

H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR KmTTNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4,1914.

wi@ 1 @on a o 1 i sux.

:07m/img H. H. WEST. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR` 4, 1914.

1,1 17,Q36. Patente NOV-17, 19M.

7 SHEETS-SHEET ETE- i] 2 Q. mum L H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR KNXTTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION ULEB MAR. 4, 1914.

L1 M3936. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5,

H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1914. 1,1 17,936a Patented N0v.17,1914.

i 7 SHEETS-#SHEET 6.

l v l l I I l l x U u H. H. WEST.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINEl APPLIGATION FILED LLYB.. 4, 1914.

Ll 17,936. Patented NW1?, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

:El E.- E.

Such parts only of the machine as mayA he necessaryto show the connection andoperation of the attachments 'for carrying out ,this invention will be illustrated herein.

enlarged scale taken Jthrough the needle cylvthe non-working level suthcient vneedles at inder immediately above the needle control- 'ling cams, the knitting cams being omitted;

Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 1l represent respectively one of the cams (Y) for throwing out certain needles preparatory to the narrowing operation, Fig.A 8 being a front elevation viewed from the inside of the cam with the cam in lowered inoperative position; Fig. 9 is a similar view withthe cam in raised or operative position; Fig. 10 isa plan view thereof with parts broken outgFig. ll. is al vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on the'line 11-11 of Fig. 9 looking in the direction ot the arrow. Figs. 12, 13, 14 and represent respectively the other cam for t irowing out certain needles preparatoryv to tho narrowing operation, Fig. l2 being a. front elevation viewed from the inside of the cam with the cam in a lowered position; Fig. l'is a similar view with the cam in raised or operative position; F ig. 14 is a topA plan view thereof, and Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on the line l-l of Fig. 13.y Fig. t6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line 16--16 ot Fig. 2,' Figs. 17, 1S, 19 and 20 are fragmentary end view s respectively of the machine showing the parts for controlling the needle earns (X Y) in their various positions; Fig; 21 is a view showing the article produced by this improved machine; Fig. 22 is a diagram of the inside of the cam cylinder with the needles on the lower working level in the positionwhich is assumed during the circular knitting, the column of needles moving toward the left as shown by the arrow; Fig. 23 is a similar view with the long hutt needles being raised into Vthe upper or non-working level by the instep fraise cam; Fig. 24.- is a similar view with the long butt needles in raised inoperative position; Fig. 25 is a similar view showing the parts in position for beginning the Jformation. of the heel or toe with the cams (Y X) in position for throwing up or into each end of 4the column ot those alreadyelevated to constitute one-half of thewhole column of needles; Fig. 26 is a similar view with the parts in the position which they assume during the-narrowing for the heel or toe; Fig. 27 is asimilar view showing the parts in the positions assumed during the widening operation for the heel and toe.

The drawings show the main instrumentalities ri a knitting machine to which the present invention may be applied as comprising a tubular rotary needle cylinder N having av horizontal beveled gear n secured to its lower end with which a driving gear n meshes. The mechanism for driving said gear n includes a main drive shaft s carrying what will be termed fast, slow and loose pulleys p, ,v and 712 respectivelv on which a belt y1 is adapted to be shifted automatically to vary the speed of the' machine for knitting the dierent parts of the hose. A handle 7)" is arranged at the outer end of this shaft s for manually operating the shaft 'when desired.

A clutch member or rhub b is keyed to slide on the shaft s and is provided with a peripheral groove for engagement by an operating or shifting lever e fulcrumed intermediatelyof its ends on the trame ot the machine as shown `at b. This clutch is adapted to be moved either tothe right Aor to the left to engage either the gear z' or the gear z' loosely mounted on the shaft s when certain parts hereinafter 'described are to be operated. Operatively connected with the gear c" is an arrangement of gears (not shown) which forms -a compound speed gear and when the clutch 7) is engaged with the gear and the belt p3 shifted onto the fast pulley 71 the shaft s will loe rapidly rotated and through thegears ln and n" will K rapidly revolve the needle cvlinder Nvduring the continuous rotary knitting.

The needle cylinder N is provided in its .'peripl'ieral portion with uniformly spaced In the present embodiment about onetourth oi? the total number of the needles have long butts and the remainder have short butts for a purpose to he described. These needles are frictionally held inthe grooves Xof the cylinder by the usual spring hands andare vertically movable. A cam plate H. is bored to receive the revoluble needle eylindcr and is located above and contiguous to said gear n' and carries the j main knitting or needle operating cams and the narrowing picks which are brought into `ation during the knitting of the stocking. 'pilon-revoluble-needle supporting cam M The action of the slow Limos@ tically surrounds the lower part of the cylinder and is secured to said cam L and Ll) l :uned thereto and to a short arin il of a piroled rocking hell crank lever, the long arm F' of which has a segment-shaped free end with gear teeth cut in its periphery which are in continuous working engageinent with the loosely mounted spur gear 11 to drive it in a rotary reciprocating manner.

to gear y, nient 55, gear i, etc., to rotate the shaft S and Ithe cylinder N back and forth when the clutch huh moved toward the left and interlocks with the gear and the last named gear revolves the shaft s, its speed ratio being very niuch reduced. thereby or in other words the driving belt will revolve pulley g2 several revolutions to one of the and l` means of the arrangement descrilbcd the speed of the revolving j cylinder is increased. with respect to the speed of the driving belt when producinsroircular work and materially decreased while knittingT the heel and toe portions as when theY cylinder is actuated in a rotary reciprocating' manner.

To the `front end ol the intermittently movable cani shalt s is secured a cam p6 for controlling the movements or" the spring pressed holt shipper p5 the latter being in yielding; Contact therewith. A cani drain f and cani n heel g fully described in the patent above referred to are also mounted on this shaft s and at the rear or lel't end or said shalt is inmin'cd a cani drum 9 for purpose to he described.

A horizontal spring pressed cam carryliloclrl) morali-ly guided in an end- ,v '.e tion toward and from the cylinder N and ou which are n'iounted the main knitting or needle operating cams and the narrowing picks Mounted ou this block and secureffl to i inner or working; face the upper central guide incinher e2 and the lower central guard nicmher et shown in to and the space c* .between them fornisa path for guidii'zg the needle hurts. The ouiositely disposed .or right and left wedgeshaped knittiiw cams e', e usually termed raise and draw earns are also iziountcd on this lilock. The upper sides of said knitting` cams when in use deflect the needles upwardly and the lower beveled sides deflect or draw the needles downwardly and the latter after i issing thereunder engage the recessed cam member M and de speed pulley p keyed operates by nieansof gear z', seg-l fleet the needles to the top edge thereof all seing arranged whereby the device is adapt ed to inipart to the traveling needles the usual ware like movement at the knitting point while the cylinder may be revolving in either direction. The narrowing picks R which are carried byathe Cain block D each has an arm r3 which when the block D is retracted engage stationary stops r* secured to the plate H whereby the Shanks of the picks are swung upwardly and outwardly out of position to allmY the needles to be depressed. These picks R are brought into operation at the beginning of the narrowing operation when the cam shaft s has been shifted to throw the clutch Y) into engage.-

nient with the. gear 2'. and the belt shipper p5 operated to shift the belt 713 into the slow pulley p" whereby the rceiprocation ofthe needle cylinder is produced. Bolted to the taole a2 opposite the narrowing.,r picks is a bracket E in which are pivotally mounted a pair of oppositely disposed spring pressed widening'picks T which are operated hy means of a rod 7c* controlled hy a cam mein- 'eer onv the cam shaft s.

Mounted on' the cam plate H are the instep raise and draw cams F and ll" which are controlled by the clutch shifting lever Zi through the link F13 and a hell crank lever 5*', connected with said instep cams as is clearly shown in llig. l of the drawings hereto attached.

At the narrowing and widening operations for the heel and toe when knitting the stockingy shown in Fig. 31, it is to he understood that all of the long butt needles, herein shown as one-fourth of the column and one-fourth of the short butt 'needles must he temporarily thrown out of action into the non-working' level, which is a higher level than .that or the needles. whiclrcon` tinue in service during; this portion or" the knitting'. (oncurrentlv with the change of movement of the cylinder from continuous circular to recinocatory rota rv knitting the instep cani device l? elevated by means of the horizontalv connection f" jointed to the clutch shipper arm Zi wherelr.-r all the long butt needles are deflected upwardly h v said cam and thrown out of action, (see Figs. 23 and :2l-,l the diaejrarn shown in Fig. showing this cani l* operatingr to raise the long butt needles and the diagram in Fig. showingr thi-,n1 alter they have been raised hv said cam. linniediatelv after the long" butt needles have been raised by the instep cam a portion of the short butt needles at each end of the column of long;r hutt needles, is raised by the cams Y and X in a manner hereinafter described. U son actuatiinir the cylinder in a rotary reiprocatory manner the action of the narrowing short butt needle from sach end of this icc 1n operation annees v4with oiiceins 20, 20; 38, 38 and e0.

40 disposed in concentric parallel planes Vand liraped `and positioned to control the raising and lowering of the needleA raising cams Y and X to bring them just prior to the narrowing for-,the heel and for the toe to throw out of action snliieient of the short butt needles which when combined with ,the long butt needles elevated bythe instep cam F constitute exactly one-half of the entire column oi needles. The cams 40 and 40 which extend around portions of the drum 9 are here'shoivn arranged near its onter endgcsms 2G and Q0 near the inner end of the druni and cams 38 and 38 which are the shortest and the highest are shown disposed the which are mounted Canis 20, 20 and s. ihese three earns e0, 3S and 2O i to control. through means to he i f' aising and lowering of the and n; prior to the narrowing for lie wher nains 38, 40', and

toe as Will 'be hereinoet il. The drum 9 has prolided with two series here shown in each series numbered l, 2 and 8, and 5 and t5 respectively and the tvv'o series disposed apart, for a purpose to be described.

lever 59 is i'ulcrumed intermediately of its ends on the stud shaft 37 which also carries the lever and is provided at its free end with a lateral nose 39 positioned in theI path of the coins l0 and elO which hold said nose in elevated position during'the greater' portion of the revolution of the drum as will be further described hereafter. The other end oi the lever 39 is connected hy a link with a lever e6 ulcrnnied intermediately of its ends on a stub shaft li7 extending laterally from the. machine frame. This lever iii has its ends oii'set or arranged out of A'itudinal alinlnent li" ineens of a lateral E' .inter oiately .rough .lich the shalt et? ik is connected with the outer .Mort end oi' said lever 46 between the sleeve Ll@ and the terminal of said Short end which latter is pivotally connected with one end oi'. a pitinan e9. The other end of this pitnian 425/' is pivotally connected `with a crank erin which is fixed on a stuo shaft 5l which extends through a suitable hearing arranged transversely of the machine Jrarne. l p the vfree end ot' this shaft 5l is fixed an arni f3 rari-ving a roller 5l which is positioned adjacent the inner face of the large gear e" and is adapted to be' engaged at predetermined periods by cams 42 and i3 secured to the inner face of said gear 2'.' (see Figs. 3. -l and l?) for a purpose to be deinterniediate path or plane betweeny 2G. oar Y and K prior scribed. A dog i4 is pivoted on the i'ree end of the lever 46 and held in spring pressed engagement with the toothed rim 4l seing designed toengage the teeth thereof at predetermined intervals as Will be hereinafter described. The levers 11,35 and 39 are held with their ,noses in yieldable operative engaging of the cam shaft e a sulhcient psitlod-loy ineens of' suitable springs 55 positioned at any desired or suitable point for so holding them.

During the knitting of the leg, heel and toot of the stocking the drum 9 is turned slowly by each movement of the @am shaft a on which it is friotionally held in a inanner above described,4 being carried around With said sli-ait by the pins 56 and 5T one of which is mounted on the drum' and the other on-an adjacent element onthe cam shaft e.

The nose 39 of the 'lever 39 which controls the positions of the roller 54 and consequently the turning of drum 9 on shaft. s travels on the long cam LlC of said drum 9 and is held therebyv in raisedposition as shown in Fig. 2 during the knitting of the leg, of the stocking. The rear end of this lever 39 and of the lever 46 to which it is connected are thereby depressed whereby the upper end of the pi'iinan or rod e9 is drawn down thus lowering the end of the arm 50 and elevating the :tree end of arm 53 to p0- siton' the roller 54. out of thepath of the cams 42 and i3 carried by the large continuously rotating gear wheel z". The noses 19 150 and 36 of the levers 17 and 35 respectively also travel on thecam drum 9 Without being engaged by their actuating cams during the knitting oit' the leg and' hence the cams Y and X controlled thereby remain inactive during this period. -t Will thus be obvious that this drum 9 performs no function during the knitting operation above mentioned.

When the leg of the stocking has beennearly completed by knitting 1n circular courses and just prior to the narrowing for the heel, the parts'ofthe machine are disposed as shown in Fig. :22, all the needles being in operative position. The turning distance, con- 115 trolled by the pattern chain B, and cam Wheel e shifts the belt "v3 `from the fast pulley p, on which it has been operating to the slow pulley 7; whereby the cylinder is Y slowed down prior to beginning its reoipro- 4120 catory movement. The further turning of Shafts under the action of the pattern chain B and cam Wheel e shifts the clutch lever Z2 to the left and simultaneously with the shifting of the lever b to the left, the in- 125 step cam F is raised through rod or and bell crank b4 connected with said clutch shifting lever, and all of the long butt needles C, here constituting one-fourth of the entire column, are raised' to the non- 130 Working level as shown in Figs. 23 and 24, and the needle cylinder is then ready for reciprocatory knitting to form the heel. At the end of the circular knitting just before the beginning of the reciprocatory knitting, and at the end of each reciprocatory stroke the needle cylinder N stands still for a short period. These rests are due to the lost motion occurring when the Wrist pin connection of the pitman i2 passes rnm one side to the other of the dead center ofthe gear z" which is a distance of about an inch and a quarter, more or less; also to the taking up ot' the back lash which occurs between the teeth of the segment gear and the pinion 11 and between the teeth of the bevel gears n and n which latter takes place'immediately following that of segment 'i5 and gear i. During the interval While the cylinder remains stationary at the end of the circular movement the needle raising cams Y and X are elevated and positioned as shown in Fig. 25 at each side of the knitting cams just prior to the narrowin for the heel. This raising of the cams l and X occurs When the drum 9 has been turned sufliciently to cause the nose 39 of the roller-controlling lever 39 to drop off the straight end of the cam 40 onto the periphery oit' the drum (see Fig. 17), and the dropping o this lever'end through the action of link 45 and pitman 49 positions the roller 54 in the path of the cams 42 and 43. The continued turning of the gear i causesicam 42 to pass under the roller 54 and raise it a predetermined distance thereby lowering the pitman 49 and with it the outer end-of the lever 4G whereby the dog 44 is caused to engage the tooth 1 in the rim 41 of the drum 9 (see Figs. 17 'and 18) and turn said drumv on the shaft s a predetermined distance sufficient' to cause the projection 2Oa on cam 20 to pass under the nose 19 of lever 17 and raise said lever, carrying with it the rod 1G connected with the needle raising cam Y which latter is thus elevated into position to raise at one end of the column C-the desired number of short butt needles out of action as shown i'n Fig. 25. Immediately after these needles 'are raised the cam projection 20a passeL from under nose 19 oflever 17 and causest e cam Y to drop slightly below the lower ends of the needles just raised thereby into the position shown in Fig. 25 whereby sutlicient space is left betweenl the upper edge of said cam Y and the needle endsto prevent `any danger 01"' the cam engaging said needle ends on the return stroke of the cylinder. This turning of drum 9 .on shaft sby the dog 44 engaging tooth 1 thereof, causes the stud 5G on said drum to move au'ay from stud 57 on thecain wheel g into the position shown in Fig. 18 and thus prevents the drum being turned with the shaft s. The relative position of thesestuds during the turning of drum 9 by dog 44 when it engages teeth 1, 2 and 3 o' said drum rim, is clearly shown in Figs. 18 to 20.

The cam Y is raised and dropped sli, ,fhtly to the position shown in Fig. 25 at the interval When the cylinder remains still at the end 'of its circular movement just before the beginning of its iirst reciprocatory stroke. This `intefval of rest is so short and the movement of the cylinder on its first reciprocatorystroke follows so quickly that there is 'not sulhcient time to louer cam Y te its seat 'Y before the begining of the reciprecatory. movement Without endangering the short butt needles which remain active.

Consequently, the cams 2O and 20 are made long enough to retain them under the nose 19 of the lever 17 which controls cam Y, until the cylinder completes' its rst forward reciprocatory stroke and begins its return stroke, when the cam 20 or20 as the case may be, moves from under nose 19 and causes rod 16 and the. cano Y to drop to the position shown in Figs. 22, 23, 26 and 27. Simultaneously With the raising of cam Y on drum 9 the cam 3S is passed under the nose 36 of the lever thereby raising said lever and elevating the rod B4 and cam X carried thereby into the position shown in Fig. 25 so that the needles on tbp of this cam X and the needles passing thereover will be raised into the non-Working level. The elevation of thee-ams Y and X raises the required number of short butt needles at each end of the non-Working eolumn C to throw out one-half of the entire colusnn of needles which is necessary prior to tuve narrowing operation for the heel and toe, it being necessary that an equal number' of needles must be disposed in the Working' and non-Working columns respectively during this operation in order that the joints in the heel and toe may be properly formed. As shown in Fig. 't' the remote ends ot' these cams Y and X are disposed at diametrically opposite points to insure the raising thereby E',

into inoperative position, prior tothe narrowing for the heel and'toe of exaetly onehalf ol the entire column of needles. The cam Y being positioned and held its shown in Fig. 25 provides'suflicient space between its lower edge and the upper edge of cam M to permit the passage of the butts of the operative short butt needles during the return or first reciprocatory stroke of the cylinder. Vhen these cams Y and X have been raised, the cylinder begins its return or lirst .reciprocatory stroke and when the last needle to the lett of cam X between said cam and the lon'gbutt needles has passedthe point K of said cam, the small cam 43 on the gear wheel t" in the meantime has passed under the roller 54 and lowered the rod 49 causing the dog 44 to engage the toot-h 2 of the drum 9 and turn said drum on the shaft s a distance sufficient to cause the cam 3S to pass from ing the extreme limit thereof the large cani f the rod 49 causinglthe' dog 4-4 Ato engage the. tooth 5 of the drum 9 and turn said drumv on the shaft s :i distance suiiicient to cause the cam 38" to pass from under thev toe 36 of lever 35 thus causing said toe to drop and carry with it the cam controlling -rod 34 thereby lowering the cain X into inoperative position as shown in Figs. 22 to 2.4, leaving the needles raised thereby in the non-Workn ing level, and the cylinder again starts on its second forward stroke and before reach- '42 again lifts roller 54 owing to the fact that the large gear i has in the meantime niade a complete revolution and thus brought cam 42 again into the path of the roller 54, and through rod 49 and lever 46 causes dog 44 to engage tooth 6 of the drum rim 4l and turn said drum sufficiently to cause cani 20 to pass from under nose 19 of lever 17 thereby pulling rod 16 down and lowering cam Y into its seat 1l in the cam plate M out of the Way of the needles. Simultaneously with the lowering of the cam Y the nose 89 rof the lever 39 rides up on the beveled end of cam 40 and thereby moves the roller 54 out of the path of the cams and 43 Where 'it is held by said engagement of nose 39' with the long cam 40 and the machine is then ready 'for the narrowing for the toe, which is then knit in the usual manner by first narrowing and then widening and finally closing the toe along the edges of the go'ies when the stocking is complete.

ln the operation of this machine when the parts are in position iorcircular knitting to produce the leg` of a stocking the machine is set into action by the belt shipper gf thereby automatically shifting the driving belt Jfrom the idler pulley onto the loosely i'evoluble quick speed driving pulley ya. The belt While thus passing onto the driving pulley gi will necessarilv cross the intermediate or'slo'a speed pulley p thus starting the inacliiiie into knitting action more slowly and with less strain upon it than if'the lpulley y) were located immediately contiguous to the idle pulleyL IThe first movement ol? the revolving knitting cylinder carries the depressed short bott needles iii a straight line past the face of the rear knitting cani the outer ends the immediately1 following' long butt needles at the same tiiiie engaging the cani cZ-anrl be- 'ing deflected into the path e* therebi7 posin tioniiig them to engage the downwardly deiiectingl surface of said rear earn, and passing thereunder while inciting?, the first stitch at the same instant that the last of the short butts pass the face oli the cain. Simultanenurses ously with this operation the spring,r of the it and'- cain block l) automatically advances its narrowing picks to the normal Working level close to the surface of the revolving lower dotted vline shown above the edge of the cani, ill indicates the normal, Working path of the butts and corresponding' with the production of circular or plain knitting.

The cooperation of the revolving knittingy cylinder and the members of the new positioned cani block l) together with the usual cams cause the moving needles to succes sively receive therein the yarn from properly positioned guides, thereby converting it into newY loops and at the saine time casting oil the old loops or stitches from the tops oi' the needles into the Web revolving with the cylinder. This action or" the machine then produces plain or circular knitting' each revolution of the cylinder corresponding with one row or course of stitches. The inachine continues at the nornial fast speed and Without change to knit circular Worli, as in producing the leg portion ci. the stocking, until the advance-.pattern chain B brings the proper lug into cooperation with the swinging pawl controlling` member ri. In the meanwhile, however, the cam shaft s has been advanced about onesiiith of a revo- .lutioir At this point or as determined by 'the relative .position or" the proper lug; on the pattern chain and the members controlled by the resulting movement of shaft s/ the rst yarn and speed changing actions talie place to produce the narrowing for the heel oi' the stocking. 'iliat is to say the engagement of the member 7i with the uroper lug on the pattern'chaiii li allows the lug by ineens of the psv-Jl i* to inove the ratchet wheel. e a prede-tei i' tance thereby correspondingly rotating' the carri ivheel and its shaft e and at the saine time causing the lower end. f* oiC the clutch lever "0 to be deiiected arally through an opening f6 of the cara rib 'te the outer cr right side, thus sli l y b to the left into engagement with rear 11 thereby' alsoy shifting the continuously running belt frein pulley y) onic pulley 7). rilhis materially reduces 'the and at the saine tinie changes the movement ci? the cylinder from continuous circular .to rccipiocatory rotary.. Concurreiitly with said change theinstep cani F is elevated by means of the horizontal connection if jointed to the clutch shipper aiin whereby all the long: butt needles are deiiected upwardly by said cani out of action into the nonwvcrlting level which indicated. bi' the double ronv of dotted lines at 'the left oi Figs. 2'2 to il?.

Fig. 23 shows i clutch member' 'iis l ofvsaidineedles .into the noxrworking level at a 'predetermined-point, cams for elevating to the nonfworking level at both ends of thejcolurnn of the first raised needles a predetermined number of auxiliary needles,

cams on said gear, two sets of cams arranged 1n concentric planes on said-drum, rods,.ilevers connected with said rods and having elements positioned in the path of lil" said drum carried cams, 'and means con trolled by the cam on said gear 'operating "through one of said rods for turning said drum'to engage the cams thereof with the elements `on 'said levers'for throwing into operation the cams for raising the auxiliary needles .just before the narrowing operations or the heel and for the toe begin. 3. In a circular knitting machine the.

combination with a revoluble needle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a cam shaft, knitting `mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a cam drum mounted to turn with and on sind shaft, a continuously ro tating gear, means for elevating a column "the cams -of one set being peripherally alinedv with those of the other set, rods, levers connected with Isaid rods and having elements positioned in the path of said drum carried cams, and means contrlled bythe cams on said gear operating through one of said,rods :for turning said drum' to engage "the cams thereof-with the elements on said levers for throwing into operationthe cams for raising the auxiliary needles just beiore the narrowing operations for the heel and for the toe begin.

4. -In yn circular knittin machine, the combination with a revolub e needle cylinder havin needles slidable therein, a. cam shaft, kmtti g mechanism controlled by said cam sha t, a cam vdrum mounted to turn with and on said shaft, a continuously ro tating gear, means for elevating a columnof said needles into the non-working level at a predetermined point, cams for elevating to the non-working levelat both'ends of the column of the first raised needle/s a predetermined number of auxiliary needles, cams on said gear, two sets of cams ar- .Y ananas teeth of said drum rim at predetermined in-.

tervals for turning the drum.

5. ln a circular knitting machine, the combination with a revoluhle needle cylin- Vder having needles slidable therein, a cam;

shaft, knitting mechanism controlled by said cam shaft, a continuously rotating gear. havingcamstherecn, a cam drum mounted to turnwith and on said shaft, said drum' being provided on its periphery with two sets of cams, the cams of each set being ar ranged in concentric planes on said drum, and the corresponding cams of each set being arranged in peripheral alinement with each other, one o the cams of each set being longer than the others, one having a projection at one end thereof and the other 'being shorter and higher than the others, means for elevating a. column of said needles into the non-working level at a predetermined point, vertically movable elements for elevating to the non-Working leviel at both ends of the column of the first raised-v needles a predetermined number of auxil- -iary needles, 'levers having elements positioned in the path of said drum carried cams, rods' connectingrsome of said levers with said vertically movable .needle rais.

ing elements, a rod connecting another of said levers with means adapted to be disposed in the path of the cams on said rotating gear, a dog connected with said' last mentloned rod. and lever, and teeth on said drum forengagement by said dog at predeterminati-'intervals controlled' by the lever connected with the dog and one of the cams on said drum'or rotating said drumon saidv 'shaft whereby the levers connected with the needle raising elements are actuated.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in 'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

i i HARRY H. WEST. Witnesses:

CHAs. Aran, HAROLD HoN'nYWEm. 

